Improvement in spittoons for dental chairs



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N- PEFEHS. PMTuTHoaRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C PATENT OFFICE.,

WILLIAM M. BUTLER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPITTOONS FOR DENTAL CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 51,552, dated December 19, 1865.

To all whom 'it may concer/n:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. BUTLER, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spittoons, to be attached to Dental or Surgical Chairs, called Butler-s Amalgamator Spittoon 5 and I do hereby declare that the following specification, with the accompanying drawings, are. sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use the same, without further invention or eX- periment.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my spittoon, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, and referring to the drawings, in which the same letters indicate like parts in each ot' the gures.

Figure l represents a sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a side view or elevation. Fig. 3 is a swivel attached to tbe universal joint. Fig. 4 isa bottom view, showing the position of the balls used for counter-balances.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a spittoon to be attached to dental chairs, and relates to the use ot' an amalgamating-bowl containing mercury or quicksilver, to take up the particles of gold which may be expectorated from the mouth during the process ot' lling the teeth.

In the accompanying drawings, A, Figs. l and 2, is the upper part or dish of the spittoon, connected to the lower part, B, by the neck, at which point the swivel E, Fig. 2, slips past. The spittoon I'Inake in parts stamped out of brass or other material by means of dies of the desired pattern, and it can be plated.

E, Fig. 2, is supported by the brackets G G', (ornamentethif desired,) which itpasses,and is secured by the nut F.

Gr G are supported by arms passing through the balls H H', which fasten to the arm and side of the chair by the plates I I.

D D', &c., represent a counter-balance. Two of the balls, D D', are connected by a movable rod, through which is made a hole, R, to act as a faucet, by which the saliva is removed from the bowl B.

C is a projection below the base T, to which hose may be attached to cleanse the spit- K, Fig. 1, represents the top or cover, made of glass or other material, and having an opening, V, through which everything passes into the bowl L, containing mercury M, (supported by N N which amalgamates with all the particles of gold and silver which may be ejected from the mouth.

The saliva and water iow over the sides in the direction of the arrows O O, and thence through the passage P and faucet R.

My spittoon is intended to'be attached to and accompany a dental chair of my invention, for which I have made a previous application for Letters Patent for the United States, although it can be attached to other chairs, and the universal `joint is constructed in such a manner as to follow and accommodate itself to any position which the Vchair may be made to take, without attention from the operator.

Not the least important fea-ture in my invention is the amalgamating and saving all of the particles of gold and silver, which are taken up by the Quicksilver and held until it can be retorted, which can be done at leisure, or it can be allowed to remain in the bowl a long time before retorting.

1t is a well-known fact that much gold and silver is wasted in filling teeth, which, by the use of my spittoon, might be saved; and the whole,when properly constructed and attached, forms a unique and neat appendage to a chair for surgeons, te., and keeps the saliva from the sight and smell.

I believe that I have described the construe-- tion and operation of my spittoon so as to enable any one skilled in the art, to make and use it.

I will state what I desire to secure by Letters Patent.

1. In combination with the spittoon A B, the amalgamating bath or cup L, or its equivalent, for the purpose herein specified and set forth.

2. Attaching the spittoon to the chair by means of the universal joint E F, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of April, 1865.

W. M. BUTLER. [L. S.]

Witnesses:

C. W. M. SMITH, A. T. DEWEY. 

